Police: Gun malfunctions when Everett man tries to shoot worker

EVERETT -- A confrontation in a Snohomish driveway between two strangers could have ended in fatal gunfire Tuesday afternoon, officials said.Snohomish police believe an Everett man tried to shoot a man but the handgun malfunctioned. "This easily could have been a homicide," Snohomish Police Chief John Flood said.The incident occurred shortly after 3 p.m. in the 2200 block of Lake Avenue. A worker was helping a homeowner with repairs on a duplex.They parked a truck in the duplex's private driveway.Shortly afterward, a man approached the worker and asked him to move a truck so he could get by. The stranger's vehicle was parked in the back of the property, but there was no good reason for him to be there, Flood said.The worker asked the man to provide his name and told him he would move his truck when he was done unloading.That's when the man allegedly pulled out a silver handgun and told the worker that he "better move it now."The worker ran to the duplex and told the owner to call 911. The man making the threat then used a silver Volkswagen hatchback to try to push the truck out of the way. When it didn't budge, he got into the truck to take it out of gear.The worker confronted the man. That's when the suspect allegedly pointed the handgun at him and pulled the trigger, according to a police report.The worker told police he was "scared to death," according to a police report."He heard the gun go click," Flood said.The gun failed to discharge and the suspect struck the worker with it, leaving a long, narrow cut on his arm.The worker and homeowner tried to restrain the man, but he got away and pointed the gun at the worker for a third time. He "chambered another round" and threatened again to shoot the worker, the police report said.A short time later, Chief Flood spotted the suspect's VW on Second Street under the Highway 9 overpass. He stopped the driver.A bullet was found next to the car and was collected as evidence. Police on Wednesday were seeking a search warrant for the car.The suspect was arrested for investigation of first-degree assault and was booked into the Snohomish County Jail. The Everett man, 26, was being held on $50,000 bail Wednesday.A second man also was believed to be on the property, but apparently hid and didn't take part in the confrontation, Flood said. Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com

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